Vibratory finishing machine of continuous-flow type

ABSTRACT

IN A VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE, AN ELONGATED THROUGH IS VIBRATED SO AS TO IMPART GENERALLY ORBITAL MOVEMENT TO THE CONTENTS ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AND ORIENTED AT A PREDETERMINED ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL PLANE COMPRISING THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TROUGH.

Sept. 28, 1971 A. K. FERRARA VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE OFCONTINUOUS-FLOW TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1969 Sept. 28, 1 A.K. FERRARA VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE OF CONTINUOUS-FLOW TYPE FiledFeb. 25, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,608,243 Patented Sept. 28, 19713,608,243 VIBRATORY FINISHING MACHINE F CONTINUOUS-FLOW TYPE Achille K.Fen-am, Addison, Ill., assignor to Ultramatic Equipment Co., Addison,Ill. Filed Feb. 25, 1969, Ser. No. 802,070

Int. Cl. 1324b 19/00 U.S. Cl. 517 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREIn a vibratory finishing machine, an elongated trough is vibrated so asto impart generally orbital movement to the contents about an axisdisposed in a horizontal plane and oriented at a predetermined anglewith respect to a vertical plane comprising the longitudinal axis of thetrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to improvements invibratory finishing machines of the continuous-flow type, in whichworkpieces to be finished are introduced into an elongated vibratorytrough containing a mass of abrasive finishing media of any typesuitable for deburring, cleaning, polishing, or other finishing, and inwhich the contents of the trough are discharged at a generally constantrate.

conventionally, the trough has a substantially cylindrical wall openingat the top. Hereinafter, the longitudinal central axis of thesubstantially cylindrical wall of the trough is considered to be thelongitudinal axis of the trough.

Usually, 'a single vibrator is employed to vibrate the trough in such amanner as to impart generally orbital movement to the contents of thetrough about an axis of orbital movement that is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the trough. The conventional vibrator for thispurpose comprises a shaft, bearingtmeans engaging the shaft andsupporting a housing to permit rotation of the shaft relative to thehousing, and unbalanced weights mounted to the shaft for slingingrotation around the shaft to cause the shaft to vibrate eccentrically asthe shaft is rotated, thereby to cause the housing to vibrate as theshaft is rotated. The housing is connected to the trough such thatvibratory motion of the housing is transmitted to the trough. The troughis supported in such a manner as to permit limited vertical and lateralvibration of the trough, usually by means of a plurality of helicalsprings, and the principal mode of vibration of the trough is orbital.The vibration of the trough is transmitted to the contents of thetrough.

Conventionally, a screen separator or equivalent mechanism is used toseparate the finished workpieces from the media particles at the outletend of the trough and to classify the media particles in order to removeabrasive fines and waste from recirculation, and a conveyor orequivalent mechanism is used to simultaneously recirculate the mediaparticles to the inlet end of the trough. The contents of the trough arein a fluid state and constantly shift within the trough so as to remaingenerally level. Consequently, some continuous longitudinal flow of thecontents of the trough from the inlet end to the outlet end is obtained.The principle whereby such flow is obtained may be referred to as theself-levelling principle.

If longitudinal flow of the contents of the trough is obtained solely byreason of the self-levelling principle, the flow rate may be exceedinglyslow. For example, in machines in which the trough is in excess of sixfeet in length, the residence time of workpieces may be one-half hour orlonger. A protracted residence time is satisfactory for heavy deburringand other heavy finishing, and, in some instances, it may be desirableor even necessary to recycle workpieces one or more times. However, aconsiderably shorter residence time is required for surface finishing,polishing, and other light finishing.

In the prior art, it is known to provide structure which is designed todeflect the orbiting contents of the trough longitudinally with respectto the trough. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,900, there isdisclosed a vibratory finishing machine in which a plurality ofgenerally transverse vanes are provided along the bottom of the trough.Since the axis of orbital movement of the contents of the trough isparallel to the longitudinal axis of the trough the vanes are inclinedwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the trough. The vanes aredesigned to deflect the orbiting contents of the trough longitudinallywith respect to the trough. Apparently, the flow rate of the contents ofthe trough depends upon the configuration and surface area of therespective vanes and upon the inclination of the vanes with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the trough. This invention is addressed to anentirely dilferent solution to the problem of controlling the flow ratein a vibratory finishing machine of the continuous-flow type.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,207, there is shown a vibratory finishing machinehaving a single vibrator comprising a shaft journalled to the under sideof the trough and an eccentric weight radially extended from the shaft.In the patent, it is suggested that the vibrator be mounted to thetrough with the shaft not exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe trough. and it is noted that the re sultant vibration of the troughcauses the contents of the trough to move toward the portions of thetrough having the greater amplitude of vibration.

In larger machines, in which by way of example the trough may be inexcess of six feet in length and of proportionately enlargedcross-sectional area, it would be desirable to be able to employ two ormore longitudinally spaced vibrators, driven in phase, to vibrate thetrough in the manner suggested in the preceding paragraph. Heretofore,there has been no known way in which a plurality of vibrators might bearranged to this end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention toprovide a vibratory finishing machine of the continuous-flow type, inwhich a plurality of vibrators. are employed to vibrate the trough insuch a manner as to impart a longitudinal component of movement to thecontents of the trough.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vibratory finishingmachine, as described, in which the contents of the trough are movedfrom the inlet end of the trough to the outlet end of the trough withoutvanes or othter deflecting structure in the interior of the trough.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vibratory finishingmachine, as described, in which the plural vibrators are arranged formovement of the contents of the trough from the inlet end of the troughto the outlet end of the trough at a predetermined controlled rate.

The preceding objects may be attained in a vibratory finishing machinecomprising an elongated suitably sup ported trough having an inlet endand an outlet end in combination with means for vibrating the trough insuch a manner as to impart generally orbital movement to the contents ofthe trough about an axis of orbital movement oblique to the longitudinalaxis of the trough.

The trough vibrating means comprises a plurality of vibrators which arearranged to vibrate the trough in such a manner as to impart alongitudinal component of movement to the contents of the trough. Moreparticularly, the plural vibrators are arranged to vibrate the trough insuch a manner as to impart generally orbital movement to the contents ofthe trough about an axis of orbital movement which is not parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the trough but rather is oblique to thelongitudinal axis of the trough.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, the axes ofrotation of the shafts of the respective vibrators are generally stablewith respect to a fixed frame of reference found in the vibratoryfinishing machine, in order to simplify the task of driving the pluralvibrators in phase. Satisfactory results have been obtained withmechanical vibrators of the type disclosed in a copending application ofthe applicant herein, Ser. No. 684,259, filed Nov. 20, 1967, now Pat.3,470,754 and assigned to the assignee hereof, each comprising acylindrical shaft having a longitudinal central axis about which theshaft is rotatable, cylindrical eccentric cam means mounted to the shaftfor conjoint rotation with the shaft upon the central axis of the shaft,a housing having cylindrical inner surface means surrounding and beingspaced from the cam means, bearing means intermediate the cam means andthe inner surface means to permit rotation of the cam means relative tothe housing, and counterbalancing means for generally centrifugallycounterbalancing the shaft.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention willbe evident from the following description, with the aid of the attacheddrawings, of a preferred embodiment of this invention in severalalternative forms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of avibratory finishing machine embodying the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the vibratorymechanisms of the vibratory finishing machine of FIG. 1, takensubstantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the vibratory finishing machine of FIG. 1,taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of thearrows, details normally appearing in the background being omitted forclarity;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the trough of the vibratory finishing machineof FIG. 1, showing one arrangement of the vibratory mechanisms; and

FIGS. 57 are views similar to FIG. 4, showing different alternativearrangements of the vibratory mechanisms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by like reference numbers, there isshown a vibratory finishing machine embodying the principles of thisinvention.

The vibratory finishing machine 10 comprises an elongated trough 12having an inlet end 14 and an outlet end 16. The trough 12 has asubstantially cylindrical wall 18 opening at the top between parallelupper flanges 20. The trough 12 may be lined with a suitablewear-resistant elastomer or other lining material (not indicated). Inthe drawings, the longitudinal central axis of the substantiallycylindrical wall 18, which is considered to be the longitudinal centralaxis of the trough 12, is indicated generally at L The longitudinal axisL of the trough 12 is horizontal when the trough 12 is at rest. Thetrough 12 is supported for vibration, in conventional manner, by meansof a plurality of helical springs 22 (FIG. 3) which engage suitablebrackets 24 on the wall 118 of the trough 12 and are supported by afixed framework, indicated fragmentarily at 26. A fixed protectivehousing 28 encloses the substantially cylindrical wall 18 of the trough12 and the framework 26. The trough 12 is adapted, at the inlet end 14,to receive abrasive finishing media (not shown), into which workpieces(not shown) to be finished have been introduced. The abrasive finishingmedia may be of any type suitable for deburring, cleaning, polishing, orother finishing, and may range in size from small grits to large chips,as is known. The trough 12 has a suitable dis charge opening 31), at theoutlet end 16, for the discharge of the contents of the trough 12. Aconventional screen separator 32 is associated with the outlet end 16 ofthe trough 12 and is used to separate the finished workpieces from themedia particles in order to remove the abrasive fines and other wastefrom recirculation. A conventional conveyor system 34 is used torecirculate the media particles to the inlet end 14 of the trough 12. Aconventional spray bar 36 is used to spray a suitable washing liquidonto the contents of the trough 12.

The structures described in the preceding paragraph are conventional andfurther details thereof may be supplied readily by those skilled in theart.

The self-levelling principle acts on the contents of the trough 12.During vibration of the trough 12, as the contents of the trough 12 aredischarged from the discharge opening 30 at the outlet end 16 of thetrough 12 and media particles are simultaneously recirculated to theinlet end 14 of the trough 112, the contents of the trough 12 are in afluid state and constantly shift within the trough 12 so as to remainsubstantially level. As a result, some continous longitudinal flow ofthe contents of the trough 12 from the inlet end 14 to the outlet end 16is obtained.

The vibratory finishing machine 10 further comprises trough vibratingmeans 40 for vibrating the trough 12 in such a manner as to impart alongitudinal component of movement to the contents of the trough 12.More particularly, the trough vibrating means is associated with thetrough 12 in a unique arrangement, to be described hereinafter, wherebythe trough vibrating means 40 is adapted to vibrate the trough 12 insuch a manner as to impart generally obrital movement to the contents ofthe trough 12 about an axis of orbital movement not parallel to thelongitudinal axis L of the trough 12, but rather oblique to thelongitudinal axis L of the trough 12. In the drawings, the axis oforbital movement of the contents of the trough :12 is indicatedgenerally at L Upon generally orbital movement of the trough 12 aboutthe axis L of obrital movement of the trough 12, as mentioned, alongitudinal component of movement is imparted to the contents of thetrough 12. It has been observed that the media particles and work-piecestend to follow a generally toroidal path in the trough 12, as issuggested by the arrows in FIG. 1. Owing to the density of the mass ofabrasive finishing media in the trough 12, such generally toroidalmovement may be considerably slower than the movement of the trough 12itself.

Only a small fraction of the energy transmitted to the trough 12 by thetrough vibrating means 40 is utilized in imparting a longitudinalcomponent of movement to the contents of the trough 12. The remainder ofthe energy, except for friction losses and the like, is transmitted tothe workpieces through the mass of abrasive finishing media.

During operation of the vibratory finishing machine 10, the contents ofthe trough 12 tend to become unbalanced, as in FIG. 3, and themass-center of the contents of the trough 12 becomes shifted laterally.In the drawings, a longitudinal axis through the approximate mass centerof the contents of the trough 12 during operation of the ma- I chine 10is indicated generally at L In accordance with the principles of thisinvention, the trough vibrating means comprises a first mechanical vibrator 42 and a second mechanical vibrator 44, each being of the typedisclosed in the aforementioned copending patent application of theapplicant herein, Ser. No. 684,- 259 now Pat. No. 3,470,754. Eachcomprises a cylindrical shaft 4-6 having a longitudinal central axis Labout which the shaft 46 is rotatable, cylindrical eccentric cam means48 mounted to the shaft 46 for conjoint rotation with the shaft 46 uponthe central axis L of the shaft 46, a housing 50 having cylindricalinner surface means 52 surrounding and being spaced from the cam means48, hearing means 54 intermediate the cam means 48 and the inner surfacemeans 52 of the housing 50 to permit rotation of the cam means 48relative to the housing 50, and counterbalancing means 56 for generallycentrifugally counterbalancing the shaft 46. Further details of theseelements may be found by reference to the aforenoted patent application.

In operation of the vibratory mechanisms 42 and 44, the longitudinalcentral axes L; of the shafts 46 of the (respective mechanical vibrators42 and 44 remain generally stable with respect to a fixed frame ofreference found in the vibratory finishing machine 10. As a result, itis possible, though not necessary, to journal the shafts .46 of therespective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 to the aforementionedframework 26 on which the trough 12 is supported by means of the helicalsprings 22. As mentioned, the helical springs 22 serve as flexible linkspervibrators 42 and 44 in a prescribed manner to be describedhereinafter. The configurations of the brackets 58 are determined by theintended orientation of the longitudinal central axes L; of therespective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44.

Preferably, as shown, the longitudinal central axes L; of the shafts 46of the respective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 are oriented at apredetermined acute angle relative to a vertical plane comprising thelongitudinal axis L, of the trough 12, in order to orient the axis L oforbital movement of the contents of the trough 12 correspondingly.Alternatively, the longitudinal central axes L, of the shafts 46 of therespective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 may be oriented, either at apredetermined acute angle relative to a horizontal plane comprising thelongitudinal axis L of the trough 12, or at a predetermined acute anglerelative to an inclined plane comprising the longitudinal axis L, of thetrough 12, in order to orient the axis L of orbital movement of thecontents of the trough 12 correspondingly. In any instance, the shafts46 of the respective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 may be eitheraligned with each other or parallel to each other. Furthermore, theshafts 46 of the respective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 are coupledtogether, so as to be driven in phase, in a manner to be describedhereinafter.

The angle between the axis L of orbital movement of the trough 12 andthe selected plane comprising the longitudinal axis L of the trough 12,indicated generally at a in the drawings, determines the flow rate ofthe contents of the trough 12. In most instances, an angle ofapproximately 1-2 with respect to either a horizontal or a verticalplane comprising the longitudinal axis L of the trough 12 issatisfactory. Preferably, such angle is not in excess of approximately20. If such angle were to be in excess of approximately 20, the flowrate of the contents of the trough would be too rapid to permit anyuseful finishing action to occur.

As shown, the mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 are disposed beneath thetrough 12 and connected to the trough 12 by means of the brackets 58, inorder to simplify fabrication of the machine 10. Alternatively, themechanical vibrators 42 and 44 may be disposed above the trough 12 andrigidly connected to the trough 12 in a suitable manner.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 4, the shafts 46 of the respectivemechanical vibrators 42 and 44 are aligned with each other. The shaft 46of the mechanical vibrator 42 is coupled, in phase, to the shaft 46 ofthe mechanical vibrator 44 for conjoint rotation. A connecting shaft 60,which is aligned with the shafts 46 between the shafts 46, may berigidly connected to the shafts 46 in any suitable manner. Thus, theshaft 46 of the mechanical vibrator 44 is driven from the shaft 46 ofthe mechan- 6 ical vibrator 42. The shaft 46 of the mechanical vibrator42 is arranged to be driven from a prime mover 62 to be describedhereinafter.

Furthermore, in the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 4, the shafts 46 of therespective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 are located toward one side ofthe trough in order to compensate for the imbalance of the contents ofthe trough 12 during operation of the vibratory finishing machine 10.This arrangement is preferred in instances in which the imbalanceotherwise would seriously impede the efi'icient operation of the machine10.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 is similar to the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and4, except that the shafts 46 of the respective mechanical vibrators 42and 44 are centered between the sides of the trough 12.

In the arrangement of FIG. 6 and in the arrangement of FIG. '7, in whichthe shafts 46 of the respective mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 again arecentered between the sides of the trough 12, the shafts 46 are parallelto each other but are not aligned with each other. In the arrangement ofFIG. 6, the shaft 46 of the first mechanical vibrator 42 is coupled tothe shaft 46 of the second mechanical vibrator 44 by means of aconnecting shaft 70 having a first end connected at a universal coupling72 to the shaft 46 of the first mechanical vibrator 42 and a second endconnected at a universal coupling 74 to the shaft 46 of the secondmechanical vibrator 44. The connecting shaft 70 is preferred over aresilient connector or the like in order to insure that the shaft 46 ofthe mechanical vibrator 44 does not vibrate with respect to the shaft 46of the mechanical vibrator 42. In the arrangement of FIG. 7, the shaft46 of the first mechanical vibrator 42 is coupled to the shaft 46 of thesecond mechanical vibrator 44 by means of an endless belt engaging afirst pulley 82 on the shaft 46 of the first mechanical vibrator 42 anda second pulley 84 on the shaft 46 of the second mechanical vibrator 44.Inasmuch as the central axes L, of the shafts 46 of the respectivemechanical vibrators 42 and 44 remain generally stable with respect to afixed frame of reference found in the vibratory finishing machine 10,the tension on the belt 80 does not fluctuate beyond normal limitsduring operation of the machine 10. Alternatively, a gear train or othersuitable power transmission may be used in place of the belt 80 andpulleys 8284.

As shown, the aforementioned prime mover 62 is in the form of anelectrical motor rigidly mounted to a base plate 92 which in turn isrigidly mounted on a pair of fixed frame members 94. As shown, the motor90 is arranged to drive the mechanical vibrators 42 and 44 by means ofan endless belt engaging a pulley 102 on the shaft 104 of the motor 90and a pulley 106 on the shaft 46 of the first mechanical vibrator 42.

Modifications and improvements may be suggested by the foregoingdescription to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of thisinvention should be de termined from the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vibratory finishing machine comprising an elongated trough havingan inlet end and an outlet end and having a longitudinal axis which ishorizontal when said trough is at rest, said trough being adapted atsaid inlet end to receive abrasive finishing media into which w0rkpiecesto be finished may be introduced and at said outlet end to discharge thecontents of said trough, and trough vibrating means for vibrating saidtrough in such a manner as to impart generally orbital movement to thecontents of said trough about an axis of orbital movement disposed in ahorizontal plane and oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to avertical plane comprising the longitudinal axis of said trough, wherebygenerally toroidal movement is imparted to the contents of the trough.

2. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said angle isapproximately from 1 to 2".

3. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said angle is notin excess ofapproximately 20.

4. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said troughvibrating means comprises first and second vibratory mechanismsoperatively associated with said trough so as to impart said generallyorbital movement to the contents of said trough.

5. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 1 wherein said vibratorymechanisms are coupled to each other so as to permit one to be drivenfrom the other in phase.

6. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 5 wherein each of saidvibratory mechanisms comprises a cylindrical shaft having a longitudinalcentral axis about which said shaft is rotatable, cylindrical eccentriccam means mounted to said shaft for conjoint rotation with said shaftupon the central axis of said shaft, a housing having cylindrical innersurface means surrounding and being spaced from said cam means, bearingmeans intermediate said cam means and said inner surface means of saidhousing to permit rotation of said cam means relative to said housing,and counterbalancing means for generally centrifugally counterbalancingsaid shaft, said housing being rigidly connected to said trough so as toorient the central axis of said shaft at said predetermined acute anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of said trough, the shaft of saidsecond vibratory mechanism being coupled to the shaft of said firstvibratory mechanism for conjoint rotation.

7. The vibratory finishing machine of claim '6 wherein the shaft of saidfirst vibratory mechanism is aligned with the shaft of said secondvibratory mechanism.

8. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 7 wherein the shaft of saidfirst vibratory mechanism is coupled to the shaft of said secondvibratory mechanism by means of a connecting shaft aligned with saidshafts between said shafts and rigidly connected to said shafts.

9. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 6 wherein the shaft of saidfirst vibratory mechanism is parallel to the shaft of said secondvibratory mechanism.

10. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 9 wherein the shaft of saidfirst vibratory mechanism is coupled to the shaft of said secondvibratory mechanism by means of a connecting shaft having a first endconnected at a universal coupling to the shaft of said first vibratorymechanism and a second end connected at a universal coupling to theshaft of said second vibratory mechanism.

11. The vibratory finishing machine of claim 9 wherein the shaft of saidfirst vibratory mechanism is coupled to the shaft of said secondvibratory mechanism by means of an endless belt engaging a first pulleyon the shaft of said first vibratory mechanism and a second pulley onthe shaft of said second vibratory mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,606 3/ 1961 Brandt 5172,997,813 8/1961 Brandt 51-7 3,063,207 11/1961 Moore 51163 3,148,4839/1964 Van Fossen 517 3,063,207 11/1962 Moore 51163 3,337,997 8/1967Rampe 51163 3,371,449 3/1968 Olson 517 WILLIAM R. ARMSTRONG, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 51163

